That's pretty much all I wanted to blog about today. I meant to send those greetings yesterday but forgot. It's hard to remember the onset of winter when it's blazing hot here everyday... or perhaps it's my age now that I am in my late twenties.
Today we went to see a Thai movie called Mekhong Full Moon Party. It was a heartwarming tale starring a monk and his templemates. We were disappointed that it wasn't about a beach party full of obliterated foreigners (joking) but I guess it would have been called Ko Phang Nga Full Moon Party if that was the story (little bit of inside humour for you there). One thing about moviegoing here that I meant to mention is that before the movie starts, a photo montage of the king is played on screen and everyone is expected to pay homage to him by standing up. In the background is music that the king himself composed. It's a uniquely Thai experience, kind of neat. The king really only has a symbolic role in the country (which has a democratically elected government) but like Queen E II, he is an important figurehead and people do respect him deeply and look to him for guidance in periods of trouble. Large (really large) photos of him and the queen line the main roads in Bangkok but the photos are mostly of the queen who seems to be even more favoured than the king (?).
We leave Phuket tomorrow morning and today is the last day of the vegetarian festival. We have all had an amazing time here and have witnessed some incredible things. Maybe we'll all be back next year... we'll come for the food but stay for the projectiles.
tothesea,
k&m